Shut off the main water supply immediately, then open faucets to relieve pressure. If a pipe has burst, kill power to affected areas if you can reach the panel safely, and call. If it is frozen but intact, gentle heat from the faucet end toward the blockage can thaw it — never an open flame.

If a Pipe Has Burst

  1. Shut off the main. Usually where the supply enters the building or near the meter. Turn clockwise until it stops.
  2. Open faucets throughout the house to drain remaining water and relieve pressure.
  3. Cut power to affected areas if water is near electrical — only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
  4. Contain and remove water. Towels, buckets, a wet vac. Every gallon removed in the first hour is drywall you do not replace.
  5. Move belongings clear and photograph the damage for insurance before cleanup.
  6. Call for emergency service.

If a Pipe Is Frozen but Not Burst

  1. Open the affected faucet. This relieves the trapped pressure that actually causes bursts, and it gives melting water somewhere to go.
  2. Apply gentle heat — hair dryer, heating pad, warm towels, or a space heater at a safe distance. Work from the faucet end toward the frozen section so meltwater can escape.
  3. Keep the main accessible in case the pipe has already cracked and releases when it thaws.
  4. Watch as it thaws. Cracks often reveal themselves the moment water starts moving again.

Never Do This

No open flames — no torch, no propane heater aimed at pipe. That causes house fires, and it can flash trapped water to steam and burst the line violently. Do not leave a space heater unattended, and do not ignore a bulging pipe.

Know Your Shutoff Before You Need It

The single most valuable ten minutes a homeowner can spend. Find the main, confirm it turns, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

Preventing the Next One

Insulate pipes in unconditioned space, disconnect hoses, seal air leaks, and drip a faucet during hard freezes. See frozen pipe repair and consider insulation improvements.

Contact B. Carlson — 24/7 across the metro.